Saturday, July 7, 2012

LONDON -- Alabama delegates are arriving in England looking to capitalize on the announcement that Airbus will build a $600 million A320 assembly line in Mobile. Leaders believe it gives the state momentum heading into the Farnborough International Air Show. A delegation of 80 Alabamians, including about two dozen from Mobile, is led by Gov. Robert Brantley. The group kicks off the week with a reception Sunday night hosted by the Aerospace Alliance, a trade association representing Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi. "We're actually having to turn away guests because we don't have enough space," said Neal Wade, chairman of the group and director of the Bay County (Florida) Economic Development Alliance. He said the reception will draw many of the top Airbus suppliers that are expected to locate near the new plant, which is scheduled to begin production in 2016. (Source: Mobile Press-Register, 07/07/12)